I have a flat in Nairobi, Kenya. Can’t see the Ngong Hills from it but there’s a Jacaranda tree shading our balcony which I’m very partial to. Or something like that, right Karen?
Today I’ve been in Kenya for one year.
I left my job at the Financial Times in London on 20th Feb 2015 and on 28th Feb boarded my flight to Nairobi. I had no idea what was in store as there was very little information available online about living in Nairobi, but I managed to get in contact with a couple of local journalists who made it clear that leaving my job to move to Nairobi and freelance was a smart idea.
Fast forward to Feb 28th 2016, and I’ve spent the weekend in the foothills of magnificent Mount Kenya, staring at its snow-capped craggy peaks. Last weekend, I was in the Masai Mara writing about the first secondary school for girls in the region. The weekend before, I was in Nairobi with my friend Nicola visiting from home. We went to a cocktail fundraiser to support the LGBT community in Kenya, where it is still illegal. The weekend before I was in Amboselli National Park tracking a family of cheetahs – one mum and three cubs – as they hopped onto the crusty silver bark of a lighting-struck tree and played in the dust.
Since I’ve been here I’ve written about camping in Naivasha, spending a night up in the trees in the Ngare Ndare Forest, shared some images of the absolute gem that is Nairobi National Park, and written about my Rough Guide adventures through Northern Kenya.
Life here is fascinating, and although the bottom-of-the-stomach sick feeling set in as I handed in my notice, left my London home and said goodbye to friends and family, I’m happy to report that moving here has been the most excellent decision I’ve made so far.
Here’s what a year of living in Kenya looks like.
A YEAR IN KENYA: IN PHOTOS
